Chapter 14: "SOLDIER X-5452

Chapter 14: "SOLDIER X-5452!"

Cindy sat in her cell for what felt like five hours or so. She sat up in off of her mat that served as a bed. She had been thinking a lot about the past few days. She was just about to lay back down when she heard foot steps in the hallway outside her door. She heard the door beside her open.

"IN HERE SOLDIER!"

"YES SIR!" Cindy recognized Max's voice at once.

Looking around her cell, she noticed that on either side of the walls were little windows like the one on the door. Only these had sliding pannels so that you could talk to the person beside you. At least that's what they looked like they were for. She slid her pannel open, noticing that Max's was shut, she tapped on her friends pannel. She could here no movement from with in.

"psssst. Max? Max! Max! Damn it open this thing."

She heard shuffling feet. She was just about to call out Max's name again when she noticed a strange smell. It smelled of burned sausages almost. But not as strong. She shrugged it off thinking it was nothing. She tapped the pannel again, "Max! I know your in there! Open up! I know you can hear me girl. Listen, I have been sitting in here for at least three hours. Open this thing up! Max! Why won't you talk to me?"

She heard shuffling feet once more. Then the sound came closer. Her footsteps sounded like she was limping. The sliding panel opened. Max's eyes met Cindy's. Max's eyes looked wild, sad, and scared, she looked around quickly and whispered to Cindy.

"Listen, they won't be gone long. I can't get caught again. I can't"

Cindy then could smell the scent of burnt sausages again. She couldn't help herself she asked, "What IS that smell? You smell it right? Not just me right?"

Then she noticed Max turn away quickly. Too quickly apparently, because Cindy heard the distinct noise of someone hitting the ground. Cindy stood up as high as she could and looked inside of Max's cell. She saw her friend scoot herself up against the opposite wall. Her arms were black and blue. She saw that blood ran from her eyes, nose, mouth and ears. Her fingernails bled as well. She noticed that Max's pants had been rolled up to her knees and the same burning flesh was seen on her legs.

Max, what happened?" Ciny asked in a fearful voice.

"Punishment."

"For what?"

"For saving your ass." Max said in a angrey whisper.

"What?"

"You heard me. Why the hell do you think I wouldn't get attached to anyone in any way once I got out? Why the hell do you think I didn't want you to be pumping me with shit? Because of this Cindy."

Max held her arms up, she got up slowly and turned around with her back to Cindy, lifted her shirt to reveal her blistered back.

"Because of this! This is what has been happeing to me for three years!" Then Max slumped to the ground wincing in pain.

Cindy said through the panel, "I am so sorry Max. I'm sorry. I didn't know girl. I wish you would have said something"

"Why didn't you just ask me while you were asking me other things when I was high off of whatever you pummped me up with?" Max asked in another whisper full of anger.

"They know?:"

"Of course they know dumb ass! I didn't tell them, you didn't tell them, but she knows."

"Who?"

"Renfro. She took over the X-5 group when Lydecker wasn't found. Me and Brin went through hell. Lydecker isn't here to protect us from her anymore. Brin was shipped off though on some 8 month mission in south Africa a week ago."

Cindy said, "Why are you telling me this? You are just going to end up being punished or whatever again."

That sent Max off, "This isn't whatever Cindy." She glared at her companion through the panel and got up. Max limped over to the liittle window and held up her arms saying in a harsh whisper, "This isn't whatever. Do you see this? Can you see this? None of this would of happened hadn't you takin the TDD from my head!"

Cindy asked, "Is that what it was?"

Max rolled her eyes taking her arms down. "Yes, that thing was planted in my head. It was meant to stay. I didn't forget' purposely. I think the only person that I really forgot' before that thing came out was Logan. I can't remember why. I just did. I don't think I forgot anyone else . Were you there when they took the TDD out?"

"No."

Max gave a sneer, "Well for your information, it electricutes you to. Its put there as some sort of new gizmo. If a soldier is captured, the enemy will try to pull it out of your head. If they get it out, the electricity that was shot through your head and it makes you forget everything except your advisor, and other soldiers and troopers."

"You mean we made you forget u" Cindy began.

Max started at a noise Cindy didn't hear. She shut her pannel and walked quickly over to the cot. She sat there staring into nothing. Cindy follwed her friends action after she heard foot steps. She heard Max's door open,

"ATTENTION SOLDIER!"

"YES SIR!"

"YOU ARE TO GET READY FOR YOUR MEETING WITH YOUR BETTER. CLEAN YOURSELF UP SOLDIER YOU LOOK REPULSIVE!"

"YES SIR! PERMISSION TO ASK QUESTION SIR!"

"PERMISSION GRANTED!"

"SOLDIER X-5452'S QUESTION IS AS FOLLOWS, WHAT WILL I CLEAN MYSELF WITH SIR?"

"WHATEVER YOU HAVE!"

"PERMISION TO ASK SECOND QUESTION SIR!"

"PERMISSION DENIED! BE READY IN FIVE MINUTES SOLDIER. OR ELSE YOUR PUNISHMENT WILL LAST TOMORROW AS WELL."

"YES SIR!"

"Oh and Soldier?"

"YES SIR?!"

"STAND UP RIGHT WHEN YOU MEET YOUR BETTERS."

"YES SIR!"

"NOW DROP AND GIVE ME 20"

"PERMISSION TO MAKE OBSERVATION SIR!"

"PERMISION GRANTED."

"SOLDIER X-5452'S OBSERVATION IS AS FOLLOWS: I HAVE BUT LESS THAN 5 MINUTES TO CLEAN UP AND DO PUSHUPS SIR!"

"WELL THEN, GET STARTED ON THOSE PUSHUPS!"

"BUT SIR"

"DO NOT INTERUPT YOUR BETTERS! DROP AND GIVE ME THIRTY! AND I WANT TO SEE EVERY SINGLE ONE!"

Cindy could here Max get on the floor. She could here her breathing in and out as she did her pushups. She was struggling by 27, obviously still hurting from the therapy'. Finnaly she could hear Max rise from her push ups. The gaurds voice broke through the air again,

"SOLDIER X-5452, YOU BETTER WORK ON THOSE PUSHUPS! YOU NOW HAVE LESS THAN THREE MINUTES LEFT! IF I EVER SEE THAT PITFUL DISPLAY AGAIN, I WILL MAKE SURE THAT THE X-1'S USE YOU FOR PRACTICE!"

"YES SIR!"

"SOLDIER X-5452"

"YES SIR?!"

Cindy winced as she heard the sound of fist on face. The guard had puched Max in the face.

"LESS THAN TWO MINUTES SOLDEIR X-5452! GET PREPARED!"

"YES SIR!"

Cindy heard the door shut. And Max sliding to the ground. Cindy asked more to herself than anyone else, "So this is where you grew up?"

She heard Max answer her retorical question, obviously heard by her cat senses, "Yep, this is my home. Born and raised Born and raised"